Industrial culture as an asset, barrier and creative challenge for restructuring of old industrial cities: case study of Ostrava (Czechia)

Old industrial cities abound with extensive infrastructures, which however no longer suit the economic purposes, for which they were originally built. However either their demolition or a complete rebuilding of new is often not a viable option, and thus the issue of their smart reuse emerged in urban studies. In this paper we combine literature on restructuring, brownfields, and industrial heritage to assess their significance both as a barrier and asset for future urban development. The main aim is to provide municipalities with an overview of the range of their possible reuses, and problems they might face in doing so. Furthermore, the selected examples show that contemplating new use should be guided by assessment of intrinsic features of the structures on one hand, and by general global trends on other. This new combination of the two might render the new use competitive. For this sake a case study of the old industrial city of Ostrava is employed, as this issue has been particularly pronounced given the city's strong historical specialisation in heavy industry. Highlights for public administration, management and planning: Industrial heritage is an important local asset in old industrial cities, but if not utilised it can represent a barrier for restructuring. For competitiveness of industrial heritage reuse, it is advisable to follow general global trends in such areas as demography (housing) and society (lifestyle, social services). The case study of the old industrial city of Ostrava provide impetus for imaginative thinking of municipalities in other cities that wish to utilise their industrial heritage.